Introduction to Frontiers in Health Policy Research, Volume 3

摘要

IntroductionnThe ®fth annual Frontiers in Health Policy Research Conference, heldnin Bethesda, Maryland, on June 7, 2001, brought together academicneconomists and health policy experts from Washington, including researchers,nlegislative staff, and government of®cials. The papers presentednat that conference are gathered in this volume, which presentsnimpartial, cutting edge research that is directly relevant to contemporarynhealth policy debates.nThree papers focused on critical issues facing the Medicare program.nFor many years, the adoption of capitated risk plans has been proposednas a solution to many of Medicare’s current and future problems.nProminent Medicare reform proposals, such as the premium supportnplan proposed by the Medicare Reform Commission, build on a foundationnof bene®ciary choice among competing health plans. Capitatednplans are particularly attractive because they are expected to reducencosts, coordinate care, and provide enhanced services to Medicarenbene®ciaries. Such plans have been available for several years, sometimesnunder the name of Medicare risk plans or Medicare+Choicenplans. Despite the great hopes for such plans, the number of Medicarenbene®ciaries who have enrolled in the plans has fallen far short ofnexpectations. In fact, in the wake of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997,nenrollment has decreased instead of increased. Although the disappointingnenrollment re¯ects in part a lack of demand by bene®ciaries,nthe well-publicized withdrawals of Medicare risk plans have also impedednthe growth of capitation.